Breast Feeding

Breast feeding is the natural way of feeding your baby. Nature designed human milk especially for human babies, and it has several advantages over any substitute ever developed. Feeding your baby should be a pleasure. The baby should be at the breast immediately after birth. The vast majority of newborns can be put to breast within minutes of birth. There is no substitute for the colostrums (the thick yellowish fluid) that your breasts produce in the first few days and feeding your baby this will provide him with valuable antibodies to help him fight infection and built up immunity in the early months.

Studies have also shown that skin to skin contact between mothers and babies keeps the baby as warm as an incubator. Breast milk contains just the right balance of nutrient, and it contains them in a form most easily used by the human baby’s immature body systems. Breastfeed whenever your baby is hungry without any restriction of time. Feed your baby even during the night. You can breastfeed the baby even lying down although the best way is to sit upright and feed. It is a common doubt for breast feeding mothers whether their baby is getting enough milk. You can find out, by checking whether the baby is passing colourless urine at least 8 – 10 times a day.

How to Breast Feed

•  Wash your hand and nipples with water and soap.

•  Sit comfortably in an upright position with your back supported and hold your baby with head up. Put a pillow on your lap to bring the baby to the right level of the breasts.

•  Hole your breast with your index and medium fingers.

•  Introduce your nipple and areola (the dark circle around your nipple) inside the baby’s mouth.

•  Feed at one breast at a time till it is empty (because the initial milk (foremilk) is watery (contains sugar and proteins) and quenches the baby’s thirst while the milk that is secreted later (hind milk) is rich in fats and satisfies baby’s hunger.)

•  After the first breast is empty, burp her and shift to the second breast.

•  You can alternately start the feeds at either of the breast.

•  Put your small finger inside the baby’s mouth in order to take out your breast easily.

•  Feeding while lying down is more comfortable but don’t fall asleep or the child could inadvertently be suffocated if you roll over with the breast still in his mouth.

•  After breast feeding burp up any swallowed air, giving him soft strokes on the back.